WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US military has filed a formal complaint with an Iraqi criminal court accusing a detained, award-winning Associated Press photographer of being a "terrorist media operative," the Pentagon said Monday.

Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, said the military made the complaint about Bilal Hussein, who has been held for more than 19 months without charges in US military custody, to Iraq's Central Criminal Court.
"We believe Bilal Hussein was a terrorist media operative who infiltrated the AP," he said. "MNF-I possesses convincing and irrefutable evidence that Bilal Hussein is a threat to security and stability as a link to insurgent activity."
Morrell said an investigative hearing into the case by the court is scheduled to begin on or after November 28.

Hussein was detained April 12, 2006 after marines entered his house in Ramadi to establish a temporary observation post and found bomb-making materials, insurgent propaganda and a surveillance photograph of a US military installation.

Morrell said Hussein, who was part of an AP photo team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2005, had previously aroused suspicion because he was often at the scene insurgent attacks as they occurred.

He said other evidence, which he would not describe, came to light after his detention "that makes it clear that Mr. Hussein is a terrorist media operative who infiltrated the AP."

Under Iraq's legal system, an investigative judge reviews the evidence and decides whether it is sufficient to press charges. The case then goes before a panel of three judges for trial.

The US military's role in the trial would be as a "complaining witness," Morrell said.

Hussein remains in US military custody, he said.

The Associated Press was notified that the military planned to seek criminal charges on November 14.

"While we are hopeful that there could be some resolution to Bilal Hussein's long detention, we have grave concerns that his rights under the law continue to be ignored and even abused," AP President and CEO Tom Curley said in a statement.

"The steps the U.S. military is now taking continue to deny Bilal his right to due process and, in turn, may deny him a chance at a fair trial.

"The treatment of Bilal represents a miscarriage of the very justice and rule of law that the United States is claiming to help Iraq achieve," the AP statement said.

"At this point, we believe the correct recourse is the immediate release of Bilal."<hr /></blockquote>

LWW

hondo

11-20-2007, 06:59 AM

Wow! Can you imagine being held 19 months without
charges?!?! /ccboard/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /ccboard/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
This is not the America I thought I knew. /ccboard/images/graemlins/confused.gif

moblsv

11-20-2007, 08:04 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW9PulYpjGs

LAMas

11-20-2007, 10:54 AM

Lucky Bilial has been handed over to Iraq for swift Muslim Justice - better than 19 months of hell with the USA.

U.S. military to turn over AP photographer to Iraqi court
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The news agency has protested the detention of Bilal Hussein, who is accused of having links to terrorist groups.
By Peter Spiegel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
November 20, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military has decided to turn over an Associated Press photographer to an Iraqi court for criminal prosecution, accusing him of having links to terrorist groups operating inside Iraq.

The photographer, Iraq native Bilal Hussein, was taken into custody by U.S. troops in Ramadi 19 months ago and has been detained ever since. Although an AP lawyer said Hussein has been held with little evidence, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Monday that the military decided to bring a criminal case after new evidence was uncovered.

"This case does not hinge on a single piece of evidence but rather a range of evidence that makes it clearer than before that Bilal Hussein is a terrorist media operative who infiltrated the AP," Morrell said.

AP officials have vigorously protested Hussein's detention and the difficulties they have had in legally defending him. Its own investigation supported none of the military's suspicions, the news organization has reported.

According to an AP investigation, Hussein was picked up after a bombing in Ramadi in April 2006 when he offered shelter and food to others fleeing the explosion.

Dave Tomlin, an associate general counsel for the AP, said Hussein did not personally know those fleeing, but the military linked him to them after finding them in the same home.

"There's been lots of suspicions and rumors about who those people were, but nothing that constitutes proof," Tomlin said.

Morrell said two others in the house were detained. One was convicted of having false identification. Morrell said Hussein was found with "insurgent propaganda," materials for making roadside bombs and surveillance photos of military installations.

Morrell added that military officials had prior suspicions about Hussein, saying he had appeared at scenes of terrorist attacks with what appeared to be prior knowledge of assault plans.

Hussein, a 36-year-old native of Fallouja, was part of the AP's team of photographers that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography in 2005.

Tomlin said the news service was informed late last week that Hussein would be turned over to Iraqi authorities by the end of the month, although it was not told the specific date of a hearing to determine if the case should go to trial.

An attorney hired by the AP, New York-based Paul G. Gardephe, will fly to Baghdad on Sunday, Tomlin said. The military has not informed any AP lawyers of what charges will be brought or what new evidence has been uncovered, he added.

"On two weeks' notice, to be told you'd better get on an airplane . . . it's a sham of due process," Tomlin said. "Paul is by no means ready to do anything."

peter.spiegel@latimes.com

The link doesn't come up - Google Bilial Husein LA Times.

bamadog

11-20-2007, 11:15 AM

Naomi Wolf is a great example of an educated idiot, and a boring one, at that.

Chopstick

11-20-2007, 11:49 AM

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Naomi Wolf:</font><hr> They are arresting people in Alabama for contributing to the Democratic party. <hr /></blockquote>